News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-02-24
A SECRET OF THE CONFESSIONAL.
Revelations that startled People and
Shnmed the Police.

A sensation was created in Milwaukee,
by the publication of a statement by the
Rev. Father Anton J. Decker, pastor of
St. Anthony's Church, in that city, sup
posed to be a deathbed confession made
to the clergyman.
About midnight on the nth of
| November, 1888, a street car driver
named Grothe was attacked by two high
wayman in a lonely spot outside the
city limits. They fired upon him and
one bullet fractured his skull He es
capped with his money, but for time
was thought to be mortally wounded.
His wife was so overcome by the affair
that she became, and still remains,
raving maniac. The Street Railway
Company offered a reward of $500 for
the arrest and conviction oi the high
wayman, and few days later detectives
arrested a nineteen, yeI olossty, named
William Puetz known among his COM
rades as "Wild till, :" and Mahlon Nc
Cullough, a member of a prominent
family there, but known as a wild young
fellow. On the day following the arrest
Mccullough was alleged to have made
a confession to the police, in which he
was said to acknowledge that he and
Puetz planned and executed the attack,
but he charged Puetz with firing tho
shots. Puetz was SAID to have made
similar confession.
They were tried in May, 1884. Twenty
witnesses testified to an alibi, but they
were convicted. Puetz was sentenced
to three years and one months impris0n-
ment and Mccullough to three years.
Both were released from the Penitentiary
within a few days of each other,
Mccullough broken down in health and
apparently dying from consumption.
Puetz is now living with relati es in an
interior town in Michigan, and McCul-
Tough is with relatives near Bay View.
At the time of the trial it was stated
in their testimony by the defendants
that their alleged confessions were forced
from them. They swore that during
their confinement of ten days at Police
Headquarters they were starved, beaten,
hung up by their thumbs and otherwise
illtreated in order to force them to make
confession. Puetz swore that he fin
ally confessed to keep from starving.
The following card Is published
CARD TO THE PUBLIC.
have been authorized to state, for the in
formation of the public and for the purpose of
restoring the moral reputation of Mahlon Nc
Cullough and William PuetZ, that they were
entirely innocent of the attack upon and shoot
ing of the street car conductor, August Grothe,
on November II, 1888, at Bay View, for which
alleged crime said parties were convicted and
sentenced. This declaration and representa-
ton is made by request and upon the authori-
ty of the party guilty of the assault and shoot
ing of the street car conductor.
No further information will be given and no
questions answered.
ANTON j. DECKER,
Pastor of st. Anthony's Church, Milwaukee,
Wis.
A correspondent called upon Father
Decker, but the clergyman remained
steadfast in the purpose stated In the
closing words of his card, and it does
not appear probable that it will ever be
known who the guilty parties were. I'M
mediate steps will be taken to secure a
formal pardon from Governor Ru,k for
Puetz and Mccullough in order that they
may be restored to the Fwrz1of citizen
ship.